Cheyne Rahme (19), the talented young South African pole vaulter, realised one of the greatest aims of his career when he broke the long-standing SA and African junior record of superstar Okkert Brits at a Gauteng North League meeting at the Tuks athletics stadium in Pretoria on Saturday.
His jump of 5.47m was an improvement of 1 cm on the previous mark set in Paarl in 1992. Rahme, son of a South African decathlon champion, Damon Rahme, matriculated last year and is now a member of the University of Johannesburg Athletics Club.
He was confident that he would break the record and started at an excellent height of 5.10m which he cleared with ease and also his next effort at 5.25m.
He raised his personal best by 10cm to 5.40m in the next round when he succeeded with his second jump and followed that with three attempts at 5.47 m. His third jump at the record height showed his class and fine temperament when it really mattered. - Sapa